Miguel Cotto: the Roberto Duran Road
November 17th, 2009
By Saad Farooqi: When Roberto Duran infamously exclaimed “no mas” in his second bout with Leonard, all the courage and pride the young street fighter from Panama embodied shattered. A fighter who once returned to his home country in a national parade and a chance to stay at the presidential house returned to jeers. In many ways, the jeers haven’t stopped.
The sport, after all, is unforgiving.
The moment Miguel Cotto shook his head slightly towards his corner in the 11th round of his bout against Anotonio Margarito, he embarked on what I call the “Roberto Duran road” (Evangalista Cotto, even said “no mas” when he tossed in the towel). A long, long road of redemption. He had every reason to. Bleeding from his ears, mouth and a broken nose, damaged jaw and facial bones and literally spitting blood, any man would quit. A husband and a father of three, Cotto did what he had to do.
“I was thinking of my family, my kids,” he explained later.
Rightfully so. At 28, no man should be leaving behind a wife and children.
But what he lost that night, was not only his WBO title to the Tijuana Tornado. What Cotto lost was all the lustre, all the intimidation and intensity that he brought to the ring that night. He was, after all, considered the welterweight version of the Terminator plowing forward. The Cotto who returned against Michael Jennings, was no flesh and blood. The Cotto who fought Joshua Clottey was flesh and blood and scar tissue.
But he kept coming forward. He kept fighting.
What Antonio Margarito took from Cotto, wasn’t his confidence or his skills as Teddy Atlas said. It wasn’t his courage or ability as Freddy Roach said. What Antonio Margarito took from him was his pride. I don’t mean the chauvanistic, ever ready to burst, banter of masculine bravado. The pride I’m talking about is the one where one warrior decides to go on struggling. The Warrior’s pride. Punished to such a degree, Cotto knew that anymore of it could be life threatening. Miguel Cotto, a proud noble warrior, didn’t go out on his sheild that night. Logic and sense dictated that he forgo pride in order to save his life.
Stripped of that pride, Cotto faced accusations that come naturally when pride is robbed of a warrior: cowardice.
Boxing jargon, like any sophisticated spectacle, offers varied amounts of euphemisms. “Cotto has no heart,” cried fans and critics alike. A fighter with no heart is a fighter who crumbles under antagonism, who refuses to try when the going gets rough. A coward.
That was the price of quitting.
For Duran, the next two decades would have him return to the ring, again and again till the age of 50, to regain his pride. He returned to a third battle with the great Sugar Ray Leonard, and lasted a tough contest, all the way to the end. He fought Marvin Haggler in another battle, went the distance like no one before him. He battled fighters younger than him, fought them when he had no reason to and he did it for that pride he had lost. When he defeated a younger, game Davie Moore, Duran was hoisted in the air as the crowd wished him happy birthday. Duran had tears in his eyes that day. Maybe that was redemption.
Or a slice of it.
The man who fought Manny Pacquiao on the 14th of this month, was a man treading the “Roberto Duran road”. He wasn’t defending his title but winning back his pride. It was the same man who fought 9 rounds against an iron-chinned Joshua Clottey with a cut that needed 20 stitches. It was a man, stepping in ring to win back his pride. Not from the hands of his opponents (hard not to be respected when you punch the way Miguel does) but from the hearts of the boxing world.
Did Miguel win back his pride?
I think Miguel will be on this road for a long time. But the Miguel Cotto who quit against Margarito, his face a swollen mess of cuts and bruises, looked as if he had been robbed of something. His eyes were empty. The Miguel Cotto who steadily took off his gloves and smiled at his fans a few days ago was different. This Miguel Cotto carried his head high as he embraced the victorious Manny Pacquiao.
You decide.
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BTW, Did anybody see the robbery. Guzman and ali funeka. How about Bute and Andrarda 1st fight. A great sport like Boxing needs better management. Long overdue.
Cotto lost, main reason poor corner advice. They underestimated Pacman’s power. Pacman deserves credit, especially his corner. Cotto had no plan’s for it. He was surprised. Arum has a ton of experience and must have known the corner was weak. Look…. Marquez beat Pacman twice but still the cash cow for Arum got the win. The great sport of Boxing is one of the worst managed programs. How many fights have been given to the loser becasue he’s more popular… countless.
Nice article…i think the only way miguel will go back to fighting the way he use to is; 1.he goes back with his uncle 2.rematch against margarito then maybe he will get back on track
I enjoyed the article but must take exception with comparing what a truly battered and defeated Cotto did in the 11th round IN the Margarito fight and what a frustrated Duran did in his fight. There was no shame in what Cotto did, Duran still can’t live down that night and I”m a huge Duran fan.
lets not forget that two of had miguel win round10. he lost round9 horribly to Manny and came back to win round10.
Respect miguel cotto.
Edgar Cintron you said your a Cotto fan. I don’t think your even a true boxing fan. You might have seen one or two of Cotto’s fights and think you know what your talking about but again you don’t. You want to talk about heart: Cotto was rock by (Chop Chop Corley) and was in a world of hurt and the ref would have stop the fight if Cotto was smart and threw some punches while he was holding on to Corley, once he regain his senses he came back and got a TKO. Ricardo Torres also rock Cotto but not like the Corley fight, Cotto went down, but he didn’t quit. Instead he got up and got a KO. The Margacheato fight: if you paid for this last weekend fight, HBO show a picture of Margacheato hand as he was raise, and you can see that his handwrap was crack, tape don’t crack. The Clottey’s fight Cotto was cut early but he keep fight and grind out a decision. The fight this last weekend was a great fight for the first five round. So much action and drama. Cotto was knockdown with the right hand in the 3rd but Cotto came back to end the round strong. The forth round started out great for Cotto until he got careless and went charging forward and got rack with a left, I don’t think Cotto would have made it out of the round if there was more time left. Cotto still came out strong in the 5th and I thought he won the 5th,then it was all Pacquiao after that. I thought that Cotto’s corner should have stop the fight after the 8th. But Cotto keep wanting to fight. If that was any other fighter they would have quit or got KO in the 5th. So if you were Cotto’s fans before the fight, your even a bigger fan after the fight. He gave prop when it was due, no excuse what so ever. Grace in defeat. Respect the man and give him his prop. I still think beside from Pacquiao he is still the best 147 over Mosley or Dodgeweather.
cotto is great boxer just lose to the best
I would like to see the weight the night they fought. If anyone has please post!
Quality article mate , the site needs more of these
Pacquiao vs Cotto
Reach =67” Reach =67” /23 ‘ ½”
Height =5’6 ½” height =5’8”
Weight =144 Weight =145
Tonight weight =? Tonight weight =?
Weight Diff =? Weight Diff =?
I do not have the weight the night they fight
Pacquiao vs Oscar De Lahoya
Reach =25” Reach =26”
Height =5’6 ½” height =5’10.5”
Weight =142 Weight =145
Tonight weight=148.5 Tonight weight=147
Weight Diff =6.5 Weight Diff =2
Pacman put more weight than De la Hoya, De La Hoya is dehaydrated
140 Super Lightweight/ Jr. Welterweight
Pacquiao vs Hatton
Reach =25”/67 Reach =24”65
Height =5’6 ½” height =5’7”
Weight =138 Weight =140
Tonight weight =? Tonight weight =?
Weight Diff =? Weight Diff =?
Pacman has reach advantage, weight advantage unknown not posted
Hotton Loose 7lbs more to suited Pacman
130 lbs Super Featherweight
Pacquiao vs Marquez
Arm length =25” Arm length =24”
Height =5’6 ½” height =5’7”
Weight =129 Weight =130
Tonight weight=145 Tonight weight =141
Weight Diff =16 Weight Diff =11
Pacman has reach advantage, more heavier than Morales
135 Light Weight
Pacquiao vs Diaz
Reach =25” Reach =23.5”
Height =5’6 ½” height =5’6”
Weight =134.5 Weight =135
Tonight weight =147 Tonight weight =148
Weight Diff =12.5 Weight Diff =13
Pacman has reach advantage, height advantage, Weight almost even.
One of my amazing discovery about weight advantage is Pacquiao vs Morales:
Pacman vs Morales Part I
Weight ————– 130 129 1/2
Tonight weight—- 139 140
Pacman loss and his excuse Morales let him wear the glove that’s not fit him
Pacman vs Morales Part II
Weight ————– 128 1/2 130
Tonight weight—- 140 140
Pacman stop Morales in 10 Rds.
Pacman vs Morales Part III
Weight ————– 129 129
Tonight weight—- 144 139
Pacman stop Morales in the 3rd rd
Pacquiao vs Barera
Arm length =25” Arm length = 24 1/2”
Height =5’6 ½” height = 5’6”
Weight =130 Weight =130
Tonight weight =144 Tonight weight =138
Weight Diff =14 Weight Diff =8
Pacman has a weight advantage, reach advantage , height advantage
Pacquiao vs Morales II
Arm length =25” Arm length =24 ”
Height =5’6 ½” height = 5’8”
Weight =128 Weight =130
Tonight weight =140 Tonight weight =140
Weight Diff =12 Weight Diff =10
Pacman has reach advantage, put more weight
I don’t hate Pacquiao or Roach but I don’t considered him as a great boxer, because every time he fight, always all in favor on he’s side with the approval of the people behind the close curtain
In Roach statement that Cotto have problem of losing weight. First Cotto was defeated by Margarito who has a bricks in his globe, then he fall in Roach trick. Miguel Cotto accepted a catch weight of 145lbs in favor of Pacquio because he want to prove to the boxing world that he could win the fight to a person who gain weight and power, while he is losing and draining, that’s lead him to his most painful defeat in his entire career, But even with his condition Cotto give Pacquiao a good beating, that’s indication that, in his real natural weight Pacquiao will suffer the most worse defeat in his entire career. When Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard fought theirs no catch weight.
Welterweight limit are 147lbs and up, now Pacquiao win one of the belt in welterweight in 145lbs catch weight, should the commission will change the weight of welterweight just to accommodate the goose that lay the golden egg in favor of Roach and Pacquiao.
After winning the belt to Diaz Pacquiao became a mega buck to the media, magazine and etc…. Oscar DeLa Hoya see all of this opportunity, so Dela Hoya made the most interesting match in his carier to challenge Pacquiao that will make a megabuck, but certainly on Pacquiao advantage, and the next is Hatton in Pacquiao advantage also to be sure, the goose that lay a golden egg will keep on producing a golden egg. The last of this victim is Cotto as we all observe. Do you believe that a man who could knock a big guy, could not even shake a small guy even an inch and in the nine round doesn’t know were he is. All of this certainly will not happened without the help of the big guy who really play an important role on this game.
I don’t believe Superman or Vampire exist, one thing I do believe, things happened and things that you saw and things that was done behind a close door. There’s so many comment but has no courage to investigate what’s behind to all of it. In my observation and base on the data and collection of medical findings, that when you lose weight in a short period of time, the person is weak and no stamina. In Pacquiao case every time he fight, he out-weight he’s opponent, he experience it himself when he was drained, he lose to a Thailander by way of quiting long time ago I see that fight myself in 1995, I was in the Philippines that time.
quality quality article good sir, i will be looking out for your next peice with anticipation. bravo
guys, cotto quit against margarito. watch the 1st episode of the Manny/Cotto 24/7. they zoom show him shaking his head towards his corner and THEN Evangelista threw in the towel.
I love Cotto and I don’t blame him for throwing in the towel. he could’ve been killed.
firstly cotto didn’t quit against margarito he took way too mutch punishment in my eyes.the fight should’ve been stopped in the 9th.but hey if you think that’s quitting then you’ve obviously neve been in a boxing ring.and to add to the duran debate duran quit coz leonard was makeing him look like an idiot not because he was getting a good hideing!!!
love cotto. he needs to fire his corner. lesson to all future boxers. dont hire a guy who’s a yes man.
good article, i think cotto earned alot from the pac man fight, not only in experiance but pride. he lasted longer than de la hoya and hatton put together. a rematch with margarito is a must
Pie and chips please Bob
Good article for the most part but one quick question?
Was Duran getting pummeled with illegally loaded gloves?
While giving up has no place in boxing I really think it’s a stretch to hang Cotto as a quiter after learning more conclusive evidence of illegally loaded gloves. If Margarito didn’t load the gloves outcome is different.
But they were loaded and sadly Margarito may have taken something Cotto cannot get back. I personally think he’s got to much heart, skill, and power to hang it up. His corner is green and with the right corner again he can continue to be a premier welterweight. Give Manny credit he’s got allot speed, power, and energy.
as much as i hate it, even today, people still remember him with the no mas. not everyone, maybe not even most, but there are those who do remember him as nothing but the fighter who quit. and lets not forget what roberto went through afterwards and how hard he had to fight to win back his respect.
miguel situation is similar. not the same. but similar. many people were turned off by him when he threw in the towel. in fact, some people are even upset with him for losing to manny. it’s stupid but that’s who boxing fans can be. not true boxing fans, but the fickle ones. unfortunately, they make a big portion of the boxing community.
boxing fans have many ways of calling someone a coward without actually saying it out loud. lots of fans and critics alike criticized Cotto for not having enough heart in that Margarito fight…which i think is ridiculous given the punishment miguel continued to take for 11 rounds. miguel was all heart in that fight as well but for some reason people were upset that he threw in the towel. it’s the fact that miguel threw in the towel that upset some people. and it was this that i was addressing and how such allegations effect fighters. miguel is no coward. neither was duran. but they were called this for quitting in fights. duran spent the next two decades proving that he isn’t and in doing so took more punishment than he needed to. Miguel cotto, is on the similar path, taking punishment when he really shouldn’t be (going the full fight against clottey when he could’ve stopped it whenever he wanted) and a few days ago, against Pacman.
Hope you get my point now. Cheers
Everyone, thanks for the comments. I appreciate the positive feedback.
anonymous: I’m not calling either Duran or Cotto a coward. I call boxers lots of things but I never call them cowards.
You misread the article entire article. You’ve missed the point entirely. Same goes for this Duran Fan fellow.
and chill
to be honest, I think people exaggerate when they say Cotto was as bloodied as the Margo fight. Against Margo miguel face was covered in blood, his nose was broken, his lips were busted, his facial bones were broken and he was bleeding from his ears and spitting blood.
against pacman, Cotto’s face was swollen badly but it was NOT EVEN CLOSE to what it looked like against MargaCHEATO.
Duran fan: please read the article before posting.
This has to be The Worst Article EVER on this Site. Have you ever entered The Ring? I have over 42 times.Shame on you for calling any man or Woman who has The Guts to Box. Cotto and Duran are so far from Cowards. I guess you’ll never really know. It is easy to judge someone while sitting on a couch eating taco Bell.
the Pac-Man should invite Miguel Cotto to his General Santos estate for his next birthday bash.
Cotto is a courageous fighter and gracious in defeat. He deserves the respect and admiration of all Filipinos.
EDGAR CINTRON,
You should be ashamed of yourself and if you have in fact spoken to other so called Cotto fans they should feel ashamed too. To turn on a fighter you claim to follow after what Cotto has achieved because he’s been in two bloody fights but unfortunately did not come out on top, is disgusting! Cotto is a great fighter, was a fine champion and always will be in my eyes.
Cotto is a really great fighter, but I hope that he should just get over with the Margarito fight. He could never change the decision even if he wanted to.
We all knew that Margarito cheated and I hope Cotto fans wouldn’t use his loss to Margarito as an excuse for losing against Pacquiao, because Cotto himself never did.
And as for Cotto, he is still a true warrior and I salute him for that.
Cotto can fight Antonio Margarito again next year, and i promise the result will be the same.Excuses excuses excuses, theres no proof Toni’s gloves where loaded that night, look at cotto’s face after Pacman, it was even worse!! Miguel, face your demons and lets have a rematch with Antonio. The result will be the same.
I believe that even if Cotto weighs 147 or 150, Pacman can still manhandle him and and beat him black and blue. There is no excuse for his defeat. This goes to all those who made comments about the “catch weight”. Even Cotto himself did not offer any excuse after losing his belt. This makes Cotto a true sportman. He even acknowledged Pacman after their fight. There is no shame in losing to a fighter destined to become the greatest among the great boxers in history.
Miguel
Dont forget about Scott Gilfoid too!
“147 pac will never beat cotto” LMAO
If you want CREDIBILITY on this website, FIRE OUT LIAM SANTIAGO!! If you want people to take your website seriously and not much like a tabloid, FIRE OUT LIAM SANTIAGO!! He is a rotten tomato that would spoil the good ones. If you writers would not want your good reputation to be spoiled by an ignorant writer FIRE OUT LIAM SANTIAGO!!
Nice article, interesting observation. I think you hit it spot on , Margarito took cotto’s pride away.
The thing is that was cotto’s first loss, now i know each fighter reacts differently to their first defeat ( and this can be a psychological leviathan for a boxer to conquer ) but, great champions turn that into motivation and not a blind lust for respect/revenge.
So how will cotto react? Only he knows.
After watching the fight in the wee hours of Sunday morning, i must admit to experiencing a feeling of shock and awe:Larry Merchant said it real well,” pacquiao’s two hands have been better than cotto’s one.”
I recall in between rounds that Santiago was telling cotto that Manny only has a left, wow what a mistake that was because within the next minute pacquiao started landing some incredibly awkward right hooks and right then something dawned on me…
Remember how DLH was saying that he was almost surprised by how easily he hit Mayweather with his jab ( when he remembered that he had a JAB! )
Now pacquiao was always criticized for only having a left hand but, since his drubbing to Morales( and lets face it morales boxed beautifully that evening) he has been training that right hand.
So i think if manny gets to face floyd i reckon we are going to finally see roach perfecting pacquiao’s right hand and then well… i hope floyd brings his running shoes.
In conclusion, much respect for cotto may he prosper and make the correct decisions in the future. As for manny i have only one word ,Wapakman.
Cotto is just 29 years old with only two loses, One of them should not count because margarito cheat and the other one was not at a welter-weight, it was a catch weight that he should have never done but he did and pay for it. Cotto will come back soon, and will be a champion again. and for a long time cause hopefully nobody out will cheat and he will not fight again at a catch-weight.
The true is in everybody face and nobody see it. Cotto is basically an undefeated fighter, against margo we all know he cheat and margo was beaten badly before he land that cement on cotto. Then come pac, Cotto lost the fight the day he sign to fight at 145, at 147 pac will never beat cotto. that was proven last saturday, When cotto in the first round took pac to school, hit him with jab and make him miss. But when pac saw that cotto cant not hurt him thats when he took over. At 147 cotto jab will sit down pacquiao, and thats only his jab. People need to understand that is not just 2 pounds is the EXTRA work, Cotto train for 13 week while pac only train 8. At 147 is the other way around, Cotto train 8 while pac also train 8 but have to eat a lot like a dog to make weight and then come fight nite cotto will be fresh and pac full and tired before the fight. Thats why Roach dont want to fight at 147 but he want other fighter to drain out and fight. And fighters are so stupid that thinking they can win they do it. in baseball you warm up like 30 min before the game, But what happend if you warm up 3 hours before the game? you wont be able to play cause your arm will hurt. Thats what happend to cotto, he left everything in the gym and didnt have anything in the ring.
i disagree with most of the comments here. you see folks, Filipinos are warm people. when Eric Morales lost to Manny and acknowledged Manny’s victory (after a trilogy of fights), he came over to the Philippines and guess what? Filipinos received him warmly.
the way Cotto proved himself as a true sportsman by acknowledging Pac’s win, im sure a majority of Filipinos are ready to welcome him anytime. anytime i say, and with arms wide open.
why, you may ask. because we hate @ssholes, and arrogant trash talkers.
so if Puerto Rico gives Cotto the cold shoulder for his defeat, we invite Cotto to come over.
I think it wrong for margarito did to cotto that night for the illegal substance cotto lost his pride but i think the pacquiao fight have to be at 147 not 144 I think his still champ to me thank you
And forgot to mention, great article Saad.
Nice to see someone who can actually write a quality piece on this website instead of biased infantile drivel!
Sorry Edgar but the truth of the matter is, Pacquiao just makes it look all so easy against David, Oscar, Hatton and lately Cotto. All these fighters I have mentioned are damn good fighters in their own right. No matter how others view them..It’s just that Manny made them look so bad in the ring…and of them all…I became a Cotto fan for being a great sportsman and the one that gives Manny the hardest fight! Your fighter lost a mental game against the Pacman….and I bet if he and Mayweather will ever meet…I’ll bet my money on him. To COTTO – keep fighting man!
Cotto was a credit to the sport. Refreshing to see a guy offer no excuses unlike Paccys previous victims.
Bravo Miguel!
Edgar Cintron should first fight and exchange with Pacquiao for at least 33 mins and 55 seconds. Then he can have the right to call Cotto, Totto.
Very good article – very refreshing.
Good article. Good point pmcblack. I didn’t see the Mosley-Cotto fight, but have heard that Mosley had Cotto on the bicycle in the second half of the fight.
Finally, a writer on this site that can truly write; not one that blocks you if you do not agree with them.
Great insightful and humanistic article, well done its a breath of fresh air to have a writer on this site that can think past his armchair dream to be a boxer balls…..thanks
When Cotto fought Margarito, he fought a man with cement in his gloves. Cotto’s bravery to last that long is remarkable. He truly did go out on his shield, because Margarito used that cement, and beat his soul into submission.
In the Pacquiao fight, no man could ever show more bravery and courage than Cotto did.
Cotto the warrior lives on.
@ Edgar Cintron
You are a complete fool. Youre speaking for thousands or millions of Cotto fans are you? What have you done in your life to earn that right? You are saying that its not heart to make it to the 12th round? Cotto was lucky to survive the 4th round and yet he stayed in the fight and did the best he could…. many other fighters would have quit a lot sooner. You speak like a man who has never laced up a pair of gloves in his life and live your life and fantasies through other people. Cotto should be glad that he doesnt have you as a fan anymore.
Nice piece. Intelligent, and engaging. If you see Manny Perez tell him to get pointers from you.
It doesn’t make any sence; a fighter having more experience than his own camp. Having a 32 year old trainer just because he’s got a degree on sports training.
Totto does need a whole new camp and 1 or 2 years off.
Very good article – very refreshing.
thanks for the comments.
why i compared Cotto’s tko to duran’s no-mas fight is because it was Cotto who signaled for his corner to throw in the towel. watch that fight. in the 24/7 episode of pacquiao/cotto they even showed it up close. he clearly looked at evangelista and shook his head as he got up.
Hence the comparison to Duran, although Duran’s decision was more absurd as he wasn’t hurt. just frustrated.
I, as Cotto fan and I will speak for many other true Cotto fans around the globe and I do know a whole lot of people from the U.S. to Puerto Rico, I mean a lot, in the streets,behind bars, offices, homes you name it, I must say this one thing that is so so true and nothing but the truth is that; Cotto is now Totto!!! He lost thousands or maybe even millions of fans… He sure lost me as one,
There was no reason for him to hold back punches the way he did, I have seen Pacquiao fight since the beginning of his career and I must still say that he is being over-rated. I do not care about what anybody else has to say about that because I am a true to the heart boxing fan.
Totto has never ever fought the way he did with Pac-man, skills come with a package— HEART and he did not show the heart he had, he was indeed intimidated with Pac-man’s speed. He was afraid of throwing punches because Pac-man would exchange with a flury, which means that peoples’ mouths was the thing that broke Totto’s heart! POINT BLANK,end of story.
He should fall back now for about a year or two then start up his relationship again with his uncle but he still and all lost a lot of fans
The only point he showed was making it to the 12th but that is not the heart that can defeat anyone. A true warrior. Puerto Rican fans do not like losses under a belt like that of Pacquiao’s.
you guys with the comments need to stfu, eric morales quit against manny pacquiao, julio cesar chavez quit against de la hoya, de la hoya quit against pacquiao, israel vazquez quit against marquez.
So WTF???
i disagree with everything…
well written tho
Well, we all give Magarito all of the credit for taking Cotto’s heart from him. Despite Cotto’s narrow victory, did you see how Mosley backed Cotto up throughout their fight? That was the first time that we witnessed anyone backing Cotto up, period!!! That was the beginning of the end for Cotto. He lost his edge, he was the fighter who applied relentless pressure to all of his previous opponents until Mosely. He fought most of the Mosely fight on his back foot…….going backwards……..He eventually won a controversial decision…….He was ripe for the pickings once Margarito got him……
Sir,
Awesome article. You used a very interesting metaphor and used it from an interesting perspective.
Thank you Sir.
I’m not sure if the comparison between the “No mas fight” and the Cotto-Margarito fight is correct. Cotto got knocked out. You might say Cotto lost some of his pride that night, but that’s pretty much the case for any fighter that get’s knocked out for the first time. And many, many are never really the same again. And I think that’s the case with Cotto. Duran lost some of his hunger after the first fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. He never fought with the intensity that he did up to that fight, and in that fight, again. He was still such an incredibly talented fighter that he won 2 more world titles, even though he was fighting younger and bigger guys. Duran deserves more than anyone to be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time, more than for the No-mas fight.
MARGARITO ROBBED COTTO AND TOOK SOMETHING THAT CANT BE REPLACED, INNER BELIEF AND CONFIDENCE, ITS DOUBTFULL COTTO WILL EVER BE HALF OF THE TRUE WARRIOR THAT HE WAS.
Really, really, really good article!
It’s refreshing to see a writer on this site lauding Cotto without denigrating Pac. Nice article.